1878.] H. L. Thuillier — On the connection of the Brahmaputra and Sanpic. 27 



The volume of water down the Subansiri is said to favour the idea 

 of its junction with the Sanpii, and further careful observations are now 

 being made by Lieuts. Harman and Woodthorpe, R. E., to ascertain whether 

 the Subansiri exceeds the capacity of the Dihong or of the Dibong, the former 

 of which has long been held by English geographers to be the real outlet 

 for the Sanpu into the Brahmaputra, near Sadiya. 



It was unfortunate that the journey taken by the explorer Nain Sing, 

 below or south of Lhassa, was too far west to solve this interesting and long 

 pending doubt, but the statement made by the author of the paper now 

 read, certainly favoured the assumption regarding the probability of the 

 Subansiri theory. The question, however, was altogether conjectural at 

 present, and must remain so until more conclusive evidence is produced as 

 to the real course of the Dibong as well as of the Subansiri upwards, or other 

 native explorers can penetrate downwards from Lhassa to the head of the 

 Assam valley through the Abor and Miri tribes inhabiting that remarkably 

 unknown and untrodden region. 



If at the time of the Daphla Military expedition Major Godwin- Austen 

 and Lieut. Harman, then employed on the Survey, had been permitted to 

 extend their explorations after the political and military objects of the 

 expedition had been gained, and as so strongly urged by the late Comman- 

 der-in-Chief, Lord Napier of Magdala, it is possible that a large extent of 

 country in the direction of the northern branch of the Subansiri, as well as 

 east of it, in the neighbourhood of the Abors and Miris, towards the Di- 

 bong, might have been laid down, but all that tract north-east of Lakhim- 

 pur still remains to be reconnoitred and it is hoped that by the strenuous 

 exertions of the talented engineer officers now engaged in prosecuting the 

 work as far as permitted by the Government of India, something may soon 

 be achieved towards the satisfactory elucidation of this interesting and im- 

 portant geographical problem — and also towards a better knowledge of all 

 the extreme N. E. Frontier round Sadiya and the head of the Brahmaputra, 

 beyond or north of Brahmakund, so necessary for a due and proper construc- 

 tion of the map of the Assam Province and of British Indian limits in that 

 direction. 



The following paper was read — 



1. Fali Studies, JVo. 2, Vuttodaya. By Major G. S. Fetee, Deputy 

 Commissioner, British Burma. 



The Seceetaet read the introduction to this paper which will be 

 published in full in Part I of the Journal. 



